Tickets: $30 for Back Row Seating & $50 for Front Row Seating

Timeless Threads: A Jermikko Legacy Celebration

Water Tower Place and Jermikko invite you to Timeless Threads, a runway show and exhibit honoring Black History Month and the 54-year legacy of Chicago’s first known Black fashion designer, Jermikko.

A Journey of Resilience & Legacy

In Jermikko’s early years, she had to hide her color just to get her designs into retailers. Today, she dresses the granddaughters of the grandmothers she once styled—proof of longevity and remaining relevant. God is good ALL the time.

Jermikko started with $50, two tree trunks for chairs, three yards of fabric, and a six-pound dog. Despite the naysayers, God and Jermikko had other plans. Over five decades later, she hasn’t just built a brand—she’s made history. Her designs have been sold worldwide in over 680 retailers, featured in history books, the Library of Congress, and The Chicago History Museum. She was the first Chicago designer to appear on the cover of WWD—twice! Her work has graced movies, TV series, and major product ads like Marlboro Man and Tanqueray Gin.

Recently, Jermikko discovered she has a Wikipedia page and was the first to study and graduate in Fashion Design from the School of the Chicago Art Institute—thanks to Ms. Nena Ivon of Saks Fifth Avenue, Ms. Shirley Sherman, SAIC, and Illinois Bell. She was also the first to open a Flagship store on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago.

Be Part of Fashion History

📍 Location: Water Tower Place, 3rd Floor
📅 Date & Time: February 20, 2025 | 6 PM – 9 PM

Join us for an unforgettable runway show highlighting Jermikko’s groundbreaking career, culminating in the debut of her dual-patented SwapOut Apparel Concept—a game-changer in fashion and accessibility.

Own a Jermikko or JJ Hobeau design? Wear it proudly and be part of this living legacy!